Lennon has surgery on knee injury

LONDON, England (Reuters) -- Tottenham Hotspur winger Aaron Lennon could miss England's Euro 2008 qualifiers against Israel and Russia next month after having surgery on a knee injury.

Spurs manager Martin Jol said on Thursday that the winger will not resume training until the end of August having already missed the London club's pre-season preparations.

"Aaron had a small tear in his knee and had an operation on the outside of his cartilage," said Jol.

"We knew he would be out for three months and he has already been out eight weeks. Hopefully he will be training at the end of August.

"He had no reaction and is moving on now and doing conditioning work with the coaches."

Lennon will miss the start of the Premier League season when Spurs visit promoted Sunderland on Saturday and matches against Everton, Derby County and champions Manchester United.

He will have only a week to prove his fitness before England host Israel on Sept. 8 and Russia four days later in Group E, where they are fourth, three points adrift of leaders Croatia and the Israelis and one behind the Russians.

Central defender and captain John Terry is also a doubt for England with damaged knee ligaments.

Meanwhile, France defender William Gallas has been confirmed as Arsenal's new captain for next season.

Manager Arsene Wenger said he had chosen Gallas, who will be supported by vice-captains Gilberto and Kolo Toure, because of his experience.

"I feel center-back is always the best position to lead on the pitch and it is Gallas who has more experience at the back," said Wenger. "But Gilberto has always been a great captain and Kolo Toure has a stature too."

Gallas, who turns 30 next week, had an injury-hampered first season at Arsenal after moving across London from Chelsea in August last year.

His future at the club appeared less than certain during the close season when he used his official Web site to question Arsenal's ambitions following the departure of former captain Thierry Henry.

"Today I am an Arsenal player but I do not know what can occur tomorrow," said Gallas last month but those doubts have since been erased. E-mail to a friend

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